Casket construction



Feb. 26, 1952 J, McEwAN 2,587,355

CASKET CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jan. 15, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.'26, 1952 J, J. MCEWAN 2,587,355

CASKET CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jan. 15,. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 giimmnmmmmmn ll l ll lllllllll INVENTOR.

Feb. 26, 1952 McEwAN 2,587,355

I CASKET CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jan. 15, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 26, 1952- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,587,355 v v y CASKET CONSTRUCTION James J. McE'wam; liatesville, Ind., assignor to The Batesville Casket Company, Batesville; Ind.-,.a corporation of Indiana Original appl cation January 15,. 1948, Serial No. 2,481, how PatentjNo. 2,582,84L'dated January 15, 1952." Divided and this 16, 1949, Serial No. 113,869

zonim's. (on. 27-1-18) This invention relates to burial caskets :and has I particular reference to improvements in the 11d pull-down mechanism and hinge construction for hermetically sealed caskets. Thisappl-ication is a division of my copending application Serial No. 2,481, filed January 15, 1948, now Patent No. 2,582,841, dated January 15, 1952.

The present improvements are, designed for application to a structure of the type disclosed in .the patent to Robert B. Purkiss. No. 2.323.674 issued July 6, 1943.

In general it has been the object of the present inventor to improve the operating characteristics of the sealing apparatus so as to permit the sealing and locking operation to be performed quickly, smoothly and positively, and in the case of the cut top casket, to align accurately the two lid sections to facilitate sealing the seam between the sections.

A further object has been to improve the design of the pull-down mechanism for the lid and its relationship to the sealing strip to provide a more uniform sealing pressure about the periphery of the casket and thereby improve the eifectiveness of the seal.

The improved structure is designed for appli cation either to caskets of the cut top style which embody a sectional lid respectively for the foot and head portions of the casket, or to single lid caskets. In either instance a gasket or sealing strip is applied between the casket and lid or lids, and the pull-down mechanism serves to compress the sealing gasket between the casket and the lid to seal the casket hermetically, prior .to burial. In the instance ofthe cut. top casket,

the sealing gasket extends also across the seam,

between the two lid sections with its opposite ends joining the body seal. This gasket section also is compressed. by the pull-down mechanism to establish a seal between the lid. sections.

In order to reduce production costs and to provide caskets of a uniform quality, the casket body and lid are fabricated preferably trom sheet metal stampings. The respective casket and lid shells may be assembled completely as unitsywith the lid hingedly mounted on the casket and the pull-down and locking mechanism installed in the casket shell in working order. Upholstery or lining units for the lid and casket shells may then be installed to complete the assembly. In order to facilitate the application of the upholstory or liners, the present structure incorporates suitable nailing strips or rails, preferably of wood, to .which the liner units may be attached. These rails. provide reinforcing elements-upon which application August to anchor the pull-down bolts whlchform a part of the locking apparatus. The improvedstructure therefore. expedites the fabrication of the casket units and coincidentally, the rails stiffen the structure, prevent warping or, springing due to pull down pressure and thus provide a more rugged and efficient sealing arrangement.

In the instance of the cut top casket, the present structure incorporates as an improvement, an alignment or dowel pin carried by the foot section of the sectional lid, arranged to project through an opening in the -upper edge of the casket when the ,lidis closed. This looks the root section securely to the casket and prevents shifting due to horizontal pressure exerted by the locking apparatus when the casket is sealed. When the head section is closed it overlies and engages against a vertical shoulder formed in the foot section, therefore, the single dowel pin of the foot section prevents lateral displacement of both lid sections when the latch mechanism is actuated. I

After the lid or lids are closed, the pull-down and locking apparatus is actuated by a suitable instrumentality, such as a crank, as in the above mentioned Purkiss patent, This toolis inserted from the exterior of the casketand engages the end of an actuating screw, which upon being rotated, shifts a longitudinal locking bar in the appropriate direction to pull down the lid and apply the sealing pressure. It will be apparent that an opening must be provided for insertion of the tool and that the opening thus provided tends to aiiect adversely the seal provided betwee the lid and the casket. To prevent leakage through this opening into the interior of the casket it has been the practice to provide a packing gland to seal off the exposed end of the screw shaft but this structure has notbeen entirely satisfactory. Therefore this packing has been eliminated in the improved arrangement by the provision of a closure cap which is arranged to make a positive sealin engagement with the crank opening of the casket. This cap is applied after the casket is sealed and permanently seals the crank opening.

Another prevailing practice has been to provide collapsible exposed lid braces at one or both ends I of the casket to hold the lid open during the the lid hinges. which serve automatically to latch Other objects and advantages not specifically; set forth will be more fully apparent ,from the following specification with reference to'the accompanying drawings in which;

unit incorporating the present improvements is indicated generally at U). The unit embodies a casket body II and a lid l2 which is hingedly mounted upon the casket body along the rear- .yvard edge thereof. The forward edge of the lid -and casket-incorporates a pull-down and locking apparatus indicated generally at 13 by means of which the lid is drawn into sealing engagement with a gasket to hermetically seal the unit. Ap-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a, single. lid

Figure 2 is a diagrammatictop plan view of a casket of the single lid type; the lid being re-' "p'aratu's indicated generally at I4 is installed in conjunction with the lid hinges l5 to latch the 'lid inhopen'p'o'sition automatically. casket embodying the present improvements. .1 1..

-' As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the lid sealing and holding, mechanism. is capable of installation moved to illustrate in generahgthe arrangement'f of the lid holding apparatus and pull-down mechanism.

Figure 3 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating a cut top or sectional lid casket.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front'view of a casket of the cut top variety with the sectional lids closed showing a pull-down bolt in locked posi-' tion and showing the dowel pin as used in this type of casket. a

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the forward edge of a casket, partially in section, illus trating the locking bar and its actuatingmeans mounted therein.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view partially in section projected from Figure 5, showing the locking bar in conjunction with a portion of the casket lid structure, the locking bar in unlocked position and with a locking bolt in position for Figure 8 is a sectional view taken online 8-8,

Figure 7 showing the locking bar in locked position and showing the bearing means for the screw shaft which actuates the locking bar.

Figure 9 is a sectional view-taken on'lin'e 9-9;

Figure 6 showing one of the spacer studs which support the locking bar.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken online l0-l0, Figure 4 showing the dowel pin as used in the cut top caskets.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view detailing the cap and casing used to seal the crank opening for the locking bar afterthe lid is closed and sealed. 7

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 'l2-l2 of Figure 2, showing the hinge and a portion of the lid in; closed position and the latch mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 13 is a sectional view similar to Figure 12 showing the hinge and lid in open position with the latch mechanism engaged to latch the lidin open position.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view showing the hinge structure as viewed from inside the casket with the lid in open position as projected'from Figure 13. V

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the hinge latching mechanism in unlatched position, taken along line l5-I5 of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 taken.

Referring to Figure 1 or the drawings-g t. casket either in a single lid casket or in a cut top or :dual lid casket. Inlboth instances the pull-down mechanism for .the lids is identical. In the case of the. cut-type lid illustrated in Figure 3, the lid holding mechanism follows generally the same design as that of the single lid with the exception" that two pairs 'of independent latch and hinge members are provided for the foot and head sections respectively to permit the foot section to be lowered independently of the head section. In the case of the single lid structure 'a's shown in Figure 2, the casket unit may be provided with three hinge and latching elements, two of which may be" connected together for unitary operation while the third is operated independently. 'The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the lid to be conveniently raised and latched open by one person but to require that two persons be present, one at each end, to release the latches so as to avoid the possibility of accidents in lowering the lid.

Lidpull- -down and sealing mechanism Referring specifically to the pull-down apparatus it will be noted that the upper edge of the casket body is flanged as at 16 to present a flat bearing surface corresponding to the flanged edge l6a of lid 12. A sealing strip, hereinafter described, is disposed between these flanges to establish a seal between the lid and body. As shown in Figures 1 and 9, flange 16 extends completely' around the periphery of the casket and in conjunction with 'a series of flanged support brackets H, located to the interior of a casket shell, serves to mount interiorly of the shell, a co-extensive filler or nailing strip l8 formed preferably of wood. The support brackets I! may be spot welded to the inside of the casket for which purpose each is provided with a vertical flange I9 in contact with and-secured to the inside of the casket wall QFigure 9). Disposed within the filler strip IB along the forward edge of the casket is a longitudinal channel or locking bar 20, the upper face of the nailing strip being channeled or routed out as at 2| to receive the bar 20. Thus, the channel rail 20 is housed between flange l6 and within the nailing strip IS. The nailing strip is omitted from the rearward edge of the casket body to provide space for the lid supporting apparatus l4 and hinges ing strip of the lid provides an anchorage for the swinging members of the hinges I5, here inafter described. It is to be noted that. the

respective body and lid nailing strips constitutecornplementary reinforcing members to permit the members to be pulled forcibly together for sealing, without appreciable springing of either part, and the sealing function of the structure thereby is improved. Specifically described with reference to- Figures 5 .to inclusive, the locking bar is channel shaped in cross-section and includes a series of longitudinal slots, one respectively for each of the pull-down or draw bolts 23 and one respectively for each of the spacer studs 24 which clamp the nailing strip [8 securely between the flange l6 and bracket I? (Figure 9). The bar 20, of course, is free to be translated longitudinally relative to the spacers and pull-down bolts. The slots 25 for the pull-down bolts are keyhole shaped as shown in Figures 5 and 6 so as toprovide enlarged openings 26 through which may pass the heads 2'! of the pull-down bolts when the locking bar is in unlocked position to permit the lid to beopened or closed. Therefore when the lid is closed, the ends of the pull-down bolts will pass through the openings 28 of flange IB- and openings 26, to extend downwardly through the locking bar as shown in Figures 6,

'7 and 8.

Along the opposite edges of the longitudinal slot portions 28, are disposed pairs of pull-down skids 29, secured to bar 20 and adapted to engage the heads 21 of the pull-down bolts when the lock bar 20 is translated to pull-down position, as shown in Figure 7. For this purpose, the leading edges of the skids are inclined as at 39 to provide a wedging action against the heads of the pull-down bolts. It will be noted in Figure 8 that each pair of skids 29 is spaced apart to clear the shank 3| of the pull-down bolts and to engage the upper edge of the head 21. The

shanks 3| of the pulldown bolts pass upwardly through the lid nailing strip I8 and are provided with an integral flange v32 seated against the lid flange 16a. The upper end of the shank extends through the nailing strip and is screwthreaded as at 33 to receive a nut and washer 34 to clamp securely the pull-down bolt to the nailing strip. By virtue of the flange 32 the bolts serve additionally to secure the nailing" strip to the lid flange.

The spacers 24, (Figures 6 and .9) previously mentioned, are in the form of studs each having a flat head 35 engaging the upper flange of bracket l1 and a shank 36 extending upwardly through the nailing strip 18. The upper end of shank 36 is counter-turned as at 31 to provide a shoulder 38 for the locking bar 20. The counter-turned portion 31 extends through the slot formed in the locking bar for this purpose; (Figure 5), and the upper end bears against the undersurface of the casket body flange Hi. The upper end of the spacer is drilled and tapped to receive a screw 40, the head of which bears against the upper surface of flange 16 to secure the spacer in place. The spacers thus serve to clamp the nailing strip securely in position and the shoulders. 38 provide a slide bearing for the locking bar 20.

As shown in Figure 10 the dowel pins 4| are mounted substantially in the same manner as the previously described pull-down bolts 23.. The lower portion of the pin includes an integral flange 32 and the upper end of the. bolt passes through the lid nailing strip 22 and is secured thereto by means of a nut and washer 34, as previously described. Instead of the headed lower end shown with reference to the'pull-down bolts, the lower end of the dowel pin is tapered as at 42 so as to pass through an opening 43 provided in the flange 16 for this purpose. The locking bar 20 is provided with a longitudinal slot 44 to accommodate the lower end of the dowel pin. I

By virtue of the taper 42, the dowel pin establishes a close fit with the hole 43 in flange 16 so that the lid section is securely locked against longitudinal motion relative to the casket body. Itis toibe noted at this point with reference to Figure 3, that the taper pin is applied to the. foot section 45 of a cut type or sectional lid casket. In thisarrangement :a set of three pull-down bolts. is employed, one for the foot section, as indicated diagrammatically at 4.6 in Figurev 3, :and. twofor the. head section, as indicated at l4'l4.1. It will further be noted that the hole 43 for .dowel pin 4| is located s ightly to the right of the ,joint between the head and foot sections, and. upon the other side of the joint is located one of the holes 41 for the pulldown bolt.

In closing the casket lids prior toburial, the foot section 45. first is lowered, then the head section is lowered. The foot section is providedwith a shoulder and the head section is provided with an overhanging ledge, as illustrated in the aforesaid Purkiss patent. A transverse seal is located between the shoulder and ledge and upon operation of the pull-down mechanism, the head section is drawn down tightly to compress and establish a seal across the transverse seam. By virtue of the overhanging ledge bearing against the shoulder of the foot section, the head section pulls down the foot section at the seam. It will be apparent that thedowel. pin thus serves to stabilize both lid sections against the longitudinal force'imposed upon the pull-down bolts due to the longitudinal movement of the pull-down or locking bar during' the sealing operation. The dowel pin also may be applied for the same purpose to the one-piece lid styleof casket. In either instance,

the translation of the latching barmay tend to shift the lid thereby transmitting stress to the hinges, and the dowel pin serves to isolate the hinges from this force.

Between the underside of flange l6 and the locking bar 20 is disposed a series of spacer blocks 48 (Figure 6). These blocks preferably are secured to the bar by welding or the like and serve toreduce the sliding friction of the bar and to maintain the bar against the upward pressure exerted by the skids during the locking motion of the bar. The bar thus is engaged and sustained between the shoulders 38 of the spacer studs and the spacer blocks 48 so as to be accurately located for actuation in the horizontal plane for engagement with the heads of the pull-down bolts.

Bar 20 is actuated, for locking and unlocking, by means of a screw shaft which is rotated by a detachable crank. The crank is fitted into an opening provided at one end of the casket and accessible through a receptacle having a detachable closure head which may be sealed off after the casket is closed and sealed as hereinafter disclosed. Described in detail with reference to Figures 5 to 7 the actuating screw shaft 50 has its inner end in screwthreaded engagement with a connecting block 5| which is welded or otherwise secured to theend of the bar 20. A pair of stop collars 52 andz53zis provided at opposite ends of the screw shaft and secured in position by means of taper pins 54. The travel range of block thus is limited to the distance between the stop collars. In unlocked position the connecting block resides against the left hand collar 52 as shown' in Figure 6 and in the locked position against the right hand collar 53 as shown in Fi ure 7.

For purposes of identification the actuating shaft 53 may be divided into three sections, the threaded section 55 engaging connecting block 5|, an unthreaded journalportion 56, and an extended portion 51 preferably hexagonal or square in cross section to provide engagement with a crank or other operating instrumentality as indicated at 58 in broken lines (Figure 7).. The unthreaded portion 56' of the shaft is rotatably journalled in a bearing bushing 60 secured by welding or other 'meansto the flange 61 of a bearing bracket 62 (Figures 5 and 8); Bearing bracket 62 preferably is formed of sheet metal and embodies a horizontal flange 63 at its upper end, spot welded or otherwise secured to the flange iii of the casket body and includes a depending vertical flange having its lower end 64 secured to the interior wall of the casket body as by spot welding. It is to be noted in Figure 5 that the right hand stop collar 53 abuts against one end of bushing 60 and a stop collar 65, which may be an integral part of the shaft or which may be inthe form of a collar pinned to the actuating shaft, engages the opposite end of the bushing. This structure provides a, rugged bearing support for the actuating shaft and maintains the longitudinal position of the shaft against the longitudinal thrust developed when the shaft is rotated to draw down or release the lid.

The sealing strip extending around the body between the lid and body flanges 16 and liia may follow the structure disclosed in the aforementioned 'Purkiss patent with the transverse lid seal, in the case of the cut top casket, having its ends arranged to make a sealing engagement with the body strip when the lids are closed and sealed. As shown in Figure 9 the body sealing strip 66 preferably includes a series of corrugations or ribs 61 to permit a greater flow of material under compression. Holes are provided in the gasket to accommodate the pull-down bolts 23, the taper pins M and the hinge arms. Referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that a clearance hole 68, shaped to accommodate the flange 32, is provided and a similar clearance hole is provided for the flange of the taper pin as illustrated in Figure 10. Likewise as shown in Figure 13 a clearance hole is provided around the swinging arm of the hinge. In this case a marginal ridge may be formed around the circumference of the hole to be compressed when the lid is closed, causing the sealing material to flow in and embrace and seal the arm of the hinge thereby rendering more effective the casket'seal.

Lid holding mechanism Referring to Figures 2 and 3 and 12-to 1'7 inclusive, the casket is equipped with automatic latching means to hold one or both of the lids in elevated position during the services. This aping'a shank 13 extending through the framing member or nailing strip 22. The inner end of shank 13. is screwthreaded as at 14 to receive a nut and washer 15. A sleeve or spacer 16, coextensive with and surrounding the shank 13, extends through the nailing strip to permit the nut 15 to establisha clamping engagement of the flared flange ll against the flange l6a of the lid shell. The arm 12 which extends from the shank 13 is arcuate in shape, being developed in an arc, the center of which coincides with the center of hinge pin 88. Since the arm is curved to fit the radius of its swing, the arm may swing relative tothe hole'flii without interference. It will be noted in Figure 15 that arm i2 is circular in cross section so as to facilitate the scaling function of the gasket'hole relative to the hinge arm;

.The. curved arm portion 12 terminates in a straight arm section 8 l the opposite end of which pivotally joins the hinge pin (Figure 13) Pin 80 is located beneath flange l6 of the body shell and forms a part of a bracket generally indicated at 82 (Figure 14). Bracket 82 comprises a U- shaped body portion 83 having integral flanges B l-+84 at opposite ends which are secured by means of screws and nuts 85 extending through the flange I5. A reinforcing bracket 86, somewhat similar to the brackets H for the body nailing strip I8, is utilized to stiffen the body shellat the hinges. This bracket includes a horizontal flange B's disposed between the mounting flanges 8d of the U-shaped hinge brackets 82 and flange l6. Therefore the flange 81 is secure-- ly clamped by. the screws and nuts 85 between the hinge bracket 82 and flange IS. The bracket 86 includes a. downwardly depending reinforcing flange 88 welded or otherwise secured 'to the body shell as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

, As shown in Figures 15 and 16 the hinge brackets further include a connecting section 90 integral with the rear edges of the vertical legs of the U-shaped body portion and the upper portion of this metal section is curled as at '91 to receive the hinge pin 80. It is to be noted that hinge brackets 82 are stamped from sheet metal and the sections 90 and 91 maybe a continuation of the rearward-edge of the U-shaped body portion 83. This provides a rigid unit not only providing a supportror mounting for the swinging arm I2 of the hinges but also forms a cooperating part of the automatic lid latching mechanism generally indicated at M, hereinafter described.

The lid latching apparatus [4 is actuated by actuating bars 95 and 96 as illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 2 and 3. In the instance of the one piece lid structure illustrated in Figure 2, the casket lid is carried upon three hinges and in the case of the cut top casket, each lid section is carried by a pair of hinges. The latching apparatus is identical for each hinge except that in the one piece lid, two of the three hinges are latched by common bar 95, while the remaining hinge-is locked by a separate bar 96. In the case of the cut top casket shown in' Figure 3, the hinges are arranged in pairs, each pair being actuated in common by a respective actuating bar 95 of the one piece type similar to the one shown in Figure 2. Althoughit is quite feasible to actuate all of the hinge latch devices from a common actuating bar, it has been found desirable in order to prevent accidents to require that more than one person be present when the lid is lowered. Thus; in the single lid type of casket the lid may, conveniently beraisedby one-person and automatically latched in open position but when itis desired to unlatch and lower the lid it is impossible for one person to actuate. both latch bars, since the bars are: located at opposite-ends of the casket. The design of the latching apparatus makes it necessary to raise the lid slight- 1y to relieve the latching mechanism of the weight of the lid. Consequently after release, the lid is supported and lowered by two persons and the possibility of having the lid slip from the grasp is avoided. It has been found also that there is some danger of timing the casket when it is mounted upon the wheeled carriages commonly employed in transporting the casket due to the weight of the lid and the fact that such carriages are rather unstable. Therefore the double latch requiring the services of two persons, one at each end, serves-as a precautionary measure.

Described in detail (Figures 12 to 17'); the latching mechanismfor the lid constitutes a-sector 91- -lying upon the upper surface of-the cross web 98 vertical of the U-shaped bracket 82. As shown in Figure 15 the sector is pivoted as at 99to the web 98 and includes an extended arm I having its end pivoted as at IOI to the actuating bar 95. As shown in Figure 13 the sector 91 is arranged to lie between the web 98 and the arm section 8| of the hinge. In the position shown in Figure 13 it will be apparent that the sector 91 serves as a stop to prevent the hinge from returning to its normal closed position thus locking the lid in its raised position. A spring I02 is disposed in tension between the bar 95 and the bracket 82. For this'purpose the bracket is provided with a lug I03 and the actuating bar is provided with a pin I04 for anchoring'the opposite end of the spring. It will be apparent in Figure 15 that with the lid in its closed position, as shown, sprin I02 tends to shift the actuating bar to the left causing the latching sector 9! to be urged in the right hand direction against the curved hinge arms I2. When the lid is elevated the arm will swing from its position shown in Figure 12 to the position shown in Figure 13 and the actuating bar 95 and sector 91 will snap to the latching position beneath the straight hinge section 8| as shown in Figure 16, thus automatically latching the lid in its elevated position.

As shown in Figure 15 the left hand end of actuating bar 95 includes a right angular extension I having an upturned end I06 providing a hand holdfor actuating the bar. The end I05 'extends slightly beyond the interior confines of I the casket and the casket lining (not shown) may be provided with a slot for this purpose. I

The double hinge latch mechanism shown in Figures and 16 is applicable either to the single or to the sectional lid type of casket for controlling the pair of hinges toward the head or left end of the casket as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. In either installation the structure is identical except that the bar 95 is altered to adapt the mechanism to the particular casket style. In the instance of the single hinge latch illustrated with reference to the one-piece lid casket in Figure 2, the structure is identical to that previously described except that the bar 96 merely actuates a single latching sector and for this purpose is quite short.

Final sealing operation As shown in Figures Sand 11 the casket body is provided with an opening into which is fitted 10 A threaded ferrule or bushing I09 is brazed or otherwise-secured in a sealed manner to the outer end of the sleeve I08 to. receive a closure cap. lit inscrew-threaded engagement therewith. Bushing I 09 is provided with a shoulder III. against whichis seated a gasket I I2 formed of rubber or similar pliable material. When the closure cap H0 is tightened upon, the, bushing, gasket H2 is compressed between the end of the closure cap and the shoulder III to, establish an hermetic seal between,v the cap and the bushing. The interior of the casket therefore is effectually sealed cit from; the. atmosphere when the cap is tightened ii -place. As shown in Figure '7 the cap is removed to insert the crank for actuation of the latching mechanism and after finally rotating the; crank to its sealing position the cap is applied and tightened (Figure 11), thus completing the sealing operation.

Prior to burial, for instance .at the close of the funeral services, the lid or lids are closed and the crank or key 58 is inserted into the receptacle I08 and engaged upon the actuating stem 57. The crank is turned a number of times so as to shift the locking bar 20 to its pull-down position shown in Figure 7, at which time the stop collar 53 will be encountered to prevent further rotation of the crank; The lid is then clamped and sealed as illustrated in Figure '7. Prior to burial the cap H0 is replaced on its threaded bushing and tightened to establish a seal with the gasket II2, thereby hermetically sealing the interior of the gasket against the entry of air.

- By the use of the wood nailing strips I8 and 22 it will be apparent that the casket body and lid shells may be completely fabricated in working order, prior to installing the linings. By this procedure the assembly job may be done most efiiciently since the men need not exercise special .care to avoid soilin 'the linings during assembly and adiustment. When everyt ing is in working order the linin s mav be tacked to the nailing strips to complete the casket for shipment. The nailing strips thereby serve not only to reinforce the structure but also to reduce the time and cost of assembly by simplifving both the mechanical assembly of the working parts and the installation of the liner units.

The improved cas et un t is of minimum weight and of attractive appearance. T e absence of the usual lid braces enhances its appearance and the mechanism for establishing the seal is, of course, completely conce led. The improved sealing mec anism by virtue of concealment and rapid actuation. permits the casket to be closed and sealed without much more work than usually is involved in closing and locking the ordinary unsealed casket and thus permits this operation to be performed ouicklv bv the funeral director or assistant at the church or funeral home in the presence of the relatives and friends of the deceased without attracting undue attention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A casket structure comprising: a body shell, a lid shell. com lementary margin l flan es on said respective shells, hinges connecting said lid shell to said body shell, said hinges including a bracket secured to said bodv flange, a hinge arm having its lower end pivotallv connected to said bracket and having its o posite end anchored in said lid shell, said bracket having a slot to permit said hin e arm to pass therethrough, a latch arm disposed in a plane paral- 16 to said bracket and pivotally connected to said l1 bracket, said latch arm adapted .to swlnglaterally to a position between said hinge arm and said slot to lock said arm in an elevated position thereby latching said lid shell in raised position, and manually operated release means for disengaging said latch arm to lower said lid shell.

2. A casket structure comprising; a body shell, a lid shell, complementary marginal flanges on said respective shells, hinges connecting said lid shell to said body shell, said hinges including a U-shaped bracket secured to said body flange, a hinge arm having its lower end pivotally connected to said U-shaped bracket and having its opposite end anchored in said lid shell, the web of said U-shaped bracket having a slot to permit said hinge arm to pass therethrough, a latch arm disposed on the upper surface of said bracket web in a plane between said web and the upper end of said hinge arm and pivotally connected to said web, said latch arm adapted to swing laterally to a position between said hinge arm and said slot to lock said hinge arm in an REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 599,043 Lautner Feb. 15, 1398 1,599,436 Salisbury Sept. 14, 1926 1,704,601 Hall Mar. 5, 1929 1,974,233 Burke Sept. 18, 1934 2,262,487 Birr et al Nov. 11, 1941 

